Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2157

Introduced
1/29/25  
Refer
1/29/25  
Refer
3/4/26  
Refer
3/5/26  
Refer
3/13/26  
Refer
3/17/26  

Caption

Expanding pharmacist's scope of practice to include point-of-care testing for and treatment of COVID-19.

Impact

The impact of HB2157 on state law is primarily aimed at strengthening the role of pharmacists in public health. By amending K.S.A. 65-16,131 to include COVID-19 along with other health conditions like influenza and urinary tract infections in the statewide protocols, the bill aims to increase the accessibility of healthcare services. As pharmacists initiate therapy for these conditions, patients may find it more convenient to receive care directly from local pharmacies rather than navigating through traditional healthcare systems, which can be overloaded in times of crisis. This accessibility is crucial in a public health scenario, especially during ongoing or future pandemics.

Summary

House Bill 2157 is focused on expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists in Kansas. Specifically, the bill allows pharmacists to conduct point-of-care testing and initiate treatment for COVID-19, which is a significant addition to the services that pharmacists can offer. This legislation is positioned to enhance public health responses by enabling pharmacists to play a more active role in managing the treatment and testing of COVID-19 within communities. Such a move could alleviate some burdens on healthcare systems during peak times and improve accessibility for patients seeking care.

Contention

While the bill has potential benefits, it also raises questions regarding the expansion of pharmacists' responsibilities and the adequacy of training provided for new treatment protocols. Critics may argue that without proper oversight and clear guidelines, the quality of care could vary. Additionally, concerns around patient safety and the extent of pharmacists' roles in clinical decision-making may arise, leading to discussions on the need for adequate training and public assurance of the pharmacists' capability to handle such expanded responsibilities. The balance between increased access to care and ensuring high standards of healthcare delivery will likely be a focal point of debate.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2002

Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the cutting healthcare costs for all Kansans act.

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales tax.

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.